Anyone can record trap checks in a TrapScan project without creating an account or logging in.
Recording a check as a guest
Scan a trap's QR code and select Continue as guest on the login screen. This opens the trap's check form, where you can record a check as usual.
When you're online, the check is sent to Trap.nz with TrapScan guest listed as the recorder. It appears in the trap's history and contributes to the project's activity and statistics, just like a check recorded by someone who's logged in.
Guests can also browse projects, view public dashboards and statistics, and explore public trap locations. You can open a trap's history to see catch totals and trends over time, including what was caught and when. The guest view doesn't identify who recorded individual checks, and private trap locations remain hidden.
What requires an account
Guest checks count towards a project's activity, but they're recorded under TrapScan guest rather than your name. If you create an account later, checks you've already submitted as a guest remain guest checks.
Some features require you to be logged in:
- Personal statistics. The You page tracks your checks, catches and species. Guest checks won't appear in your personal totals.
- Editing previous checks. You can view a trap's catch history as a guest, but you can't return to a guest check to correct it. If you made a mistake, let your project manager know.
- Entering Card IDs manually. When you're online, guests need to scan the card's QR code. Using Enter ID requires an account.
- Activating cards. You need to be logged in to link a new TrapScan card to a trap.
- Viewing private trap locations. The trap's creator, the project's managers and TrapScan administrators can view these locations when logged in.
Recording without an internet connection
You can record checks as a guest while you're offline. TrapScan saves them on your phone until they're ready to upload. You'll be prompted to log in before uploading them, and the checks will be credited to the account you use.
See How offline mode works for more details.
If you regularly record trap checks, creating an account lets you track your own activity and keep a personal record of your catches and checks.
How guest checks are counted
When someone submits their first guest check, TrapScan assigns their browser a randomly generated ID. It isn't linked to their name, phone number or an account. Guest checks submitted from that browser are associated with the same ID.
If they create an account later, checks already submitted as guest checks aren't reassigned to them.
Guest contributor counts are approximate because one person can use more than one browser. For example, someone recording guest checks from two different browsers will count as two contributors.
See How contributors are counted for details of how guest activity contributes to project statistics.